OK MINIMUM WAGE LEGISLATION IN VARIOUS COUNTRIES

and the “ fair-wage ” principles are thus combined. There is further
a very interesting point in the stipulation that the wage has to
promote efficiency. To apply precise measurements will be difficult,
but the endeavor may lead to fruitful investigations.
Application of the Law

ADMINISTRATIVE regulations issued on September 24 and a7,
: 1924,° provided that both as regards the central board and the 47
regional committees, the representatives of the employers are to be
nominated by the National Farmers’ Union, and the National Union
of Agricultural Workers and the Workers’ Union are to nominate
the workers’ representatives. Five additional members of the wages
board are to be appointed by the Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries. Two members of a regional committee are appointed by
the minister, while the chairman is chosen by the committee itself.
Certain benefits and advantages are to be reckoned as part payment
of the minimum wages and the committees are required to define
them.* In the summer of 1925 weekly rates were fixed, which varied
in the 48 areas from 29s. in one area, 29s. 2d. in two areas, and 30s.
in 15 areas, up to 37s. 6d. in one area. ® Up to September 30, 1925,
no piecework rates had been fixed. The ministry had declined to
reconsider the rates in Shropshire and Norfolk, stating that reconsideration
 would be justified only in case of new circumstances,’ and
s0 the decisions of the committees are final as long as the facts remain
the same as they were at the time of the award.
Up to September 30, 1925, the committees had received 10,846
applications from male workers and 63 from female workers for
permission to work at lower rates; 8,946 (about 8 per cent of the
number of male workers, which was 579,371) had been granted to
workers who, in the opinion of the committee, were incapable on
account of physical injury or mental deficiency, infirmity due to age,
or other reason to earn the minimum rates.” Up to the spring of 1925
employers who paid less than the minimum prescribed were merely
made to pay arrears of wages; from that time on it was decided to
prosecute them. The minister declared in the House of Commons on
August 3, 1925, that he would not hesitate, in case of deliberate
evasion, to prosecute and to secure for the worker the benefits to
which he is entitled by the act of Parliament.®
The report on the operation of the act during 1925-26 ° states that
the regional committees were inclined at first to fix wages for a short
time—up to six months—but that the frequent revisions necessitated
thereby had induced them to fix wages for longer periods. The
average minimum wage for adult male workers had during the year
been increased from 31s. 5d. to 31s. 8d. The women were paid

8 Great Britain. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Report of proceedings under
the agricultural wages (regulation) act, 1924, for the year ending Sept. 30, 1925, Lon-Ton,
 1926.
* Idem, p. 8.
5 Idem, p. 12.
8 Idem, p. 20,
"Idem, p. 2°.
} Idem, p. 25.
&gt; Great Britain. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Report of the proceedings
Janes ths Diricultural wages (regulation) act, 1924, for the Year ending Sept. 30. 1928.
London, 1